Can a proprietary Unix be a desktop OS that competes with Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux desktops? Although it may lack the visual effects of OS X, and installation is tricky in parts, Irix is a stable desktop OS -- possibly because it runs only on SGI's own hardware. Read the rest at NewsForge.

You can always run Gnome or KDE if you're so enamored with them. IRIX is the OS, not The Indigo Magic Desktop (which I like very well!). SGI developed it when KDE and Gnome were still fantasy pretty much. Lots of folks used it and liked it, many moved over to run Gnome. It's a matter of taste, not superiority as I see it. One of my Octane's is running Gnome and it works very well, just isn't my favorite. XFCE already is running on IRIX I think. Hell, I suppose you could even get BlackBox running on there if you want.

The point is, Just because it's different and you don't perhaps like running it, doesn't mean there's any need to run it down. Many others DO run it, and obviously like it. What's the big attraction with parading around here verbally and condemming anything. It's different than what you use, so what. Maybe you're just not talented enough to be able to handle it!